The first time I came to holy family was a Friday night at 7.30. I was passing the church and felt that I had to go in. When I did I was welcomed with a warm smile and hug by Fr Peter and then and there I knew he was a man of love and everybody mattered to him. What a feeling to feel God's love he shared with all of us. He is with the Lord now and I will see him again one day. God bless. He was a true father. Frank

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It was about 1996 that I first attended Mass at Holy Family. Fr Peter provided a "Damascus moment" for me. He was truly inspirational and rejuvenated my faith after so many years of very traditional services. His enthusiasm was infectious. He truly gathered together a "Holy Family" in Ingol. Thank you so much Fr Peter.Peter R

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Fr Peter’s witness to his faith has profoundly affected many people, including myself. He was a man whose whole being was naturally directed to God. The manifestation of this was always inspiring and thought-provoking, often amusing and sometimes challenging. His priesthood and his humanity combined themselves like a close couple, always enriching and augmenting each other. He was one of the sharpest theological knives in the box with an intuitive grasp of philosophy and logic. He possessed a strong tendency to rebellion, which was dynamic. I feel his loss very keenly: there will never be another man or priest like Peter Dolan. Bernard P

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Dear Holy Family, I am deeply saddened at the passing on of Fr. Peter. He was truly an angel. It is such a privilege for me to have known him. What a blessing for everyone who knew him......and some of you for over 30 years and it probably only seems like yesterday. The dedication, the joy, the zest for life and ministry and everyone who entered the doors of Holy Family church . . . every single family . . . made Fr. Peter who he was. I have no doubt that Fr. Peter is smiling like a star upon Holy Family tonight. My mother received the death of Fr. Peter with deep sadness.

Kindly convey my thoughts of sympathy to all the Families in Holy Family, to his family and everyone whose life he touched and never remained the same. I am thinking about you all in a very special way knowing how close you all were to Fr. Peter. Be consoled that he lived a full life, a joyful life . . . a fruitful life! Yes, with its challenges; but no one would see these challenges in his eyes as they sparkled with the brightness of new life which he has in full NOW! I am physically far away from the community-closeness of each one of you, as you console one another in this deep pain, but I am spiritually very close to each one of you.

I am in Luanshya attending a course in teaching methodology and staying with the Franciscan sisters of Assisi near the college, so I shall celebrate Holy Mass in the morning in honour of Fr. Peter, that the celebration (funeral) of his life will be a moment each family feels strengthened.

My deep sympathy

Spencer

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We arrived at Holy Family one Sunday evening thirty five years ago. Someone had suggested we went to Mass there as Fr Peter Dolan preached 'the Gospel'. My husband said it was the first time in his life that he had heard Mass. We asked Fr Peter when the next prayer group was. With a big smile on his face he said "tomorrow evening". We arrived on the Monday evening to find it was the first session of The Life in The Spirit Seminars. We went throughout the eight weeks and were baptised in the Spirit. Our life changed completely. We owe Fr Peter so much for his friendship, his kindness, understanding, gentleness, advice. We thank God for the gift of this wonderful human man whose teaching changed our whole life. We will never forget him....

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Fr Peter was an inspired preacher and truly God’s messenger. He was a real friend in need to so many and will be greatly missed. Thank God for the spiritual legacy he leaves. Eric and Margaret

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Father Peter touched so many lives with his charismatic and inimitable approach to faith. He was a big part of our family, and will stay in our hearts & minds forever.Stephen, Sarah, Eliza & Laura

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Father Peter cannot be replaced. He was a very loyal and true priest. He always made me feel happy when I was down. He is loved by everyone and will remain in our hearts forever more. One day, we shall see him but, for now, we pray about him, think about him, remember him and love him lots as he could not have been made any better. Father Peter means a lot to all of us.Annabel Whitworth, age 10

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Father Peter oh he's good at all sorts of things like ironing, making jam, making people laugh. But most of all he's a mini version of God!Love you Father Peter, you'll be in our hearts forever... Johnny Whitworth, age 8

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Father Peter was an exceptionally special person who took us all in, accepted us all and made us feel welcome and loved. Unconventional, unique and so human on every level. I am honoured to have known him these past 20 years. God bless - we will all miss you so much... Jo Whitworth

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Father Peter was a one-off, unique, totally God-filled, yet flawed and broken like the rest of us. He used his own hurts to find God and bring him to others who were hurting.

Married to a Catholic, an Anglican, and (shock, horror in those days) an outspoken woman, to the Catholic church in the early 1970s I was their worst nightmare. I was very hurt by their treatment of me. Then I met Father Peter. He listened, counselled and accepted me as I was. Then he just enfolded me in Gods love, opened my eyes to the power of the Holy Spirit. and made me feel part of the emergence of the most wonderful family - Holy Family Parish. I wasn't evangelised, taught or preached to - just absorbed into God's love through PDs ministry. He watched my children grow up, then baptised my grandchildren. He saw God's shining love in everyone, found God in the ordinary and everyday. He taught me to pray, not just set prayers, but to talk to my loving Father. He taught me to pray at bus stops, in shops, on the phone - where ever people needed God.

A Swedish friend said she had never met anyone who's secular and spiritual life were so seamlessly interwoven that you couldn't see them apart. An Anglican vicar friend likened PD to the all time National and Internation great leaders in Charismatic Renewal - David Watson, David Pawson, Colin Urquhart, Trevor Dearing. He said PD was as influential as them, just not as well known. He is held up as an example, and his preaching quoted, in many countries of the world. Among them, Zambia, Sweden, France, South Africa.

We will miss our "one-off". Yet his teachings will live on and we know those good friends of PDs and the Parish who've recently died have "gone to prepare a place for him". With them he'll now, no doubt, be celebrating his life, with good food, good wine, and endless prayer and praise. RIP.Ann Miller

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May I offer you my most sincere condolences on your loss of your priest and friend, Fr. Dolan. I assure you a private requiem mass will be offered on his behalf this week - in the tradition he will recognise, i.e. the previous mass translation he used himself...From a priest belonging to the Liverpool and Lancaster ACTA Group

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I wish to express our sadness to the parish at Holy Family at the death of Father Peter. Many years ago, when in a spiritual wilderness, Peter was significant in leading me back to Jesus. He was one of those few people who, after a conversation, left you with the impression that you had just been talking to Jesus. His ecumenical acceptance of the whole of Christ's Church on earth was wonderful. His theological and historical knowledge have on several occasions inspired and informed sermons here in Salvation Army in Sweden! He will be sorely missed, but we know he is making the angels smile in heaven!Peter and Florence Woode

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I'd heard of Father Peter before I met him having been involved in Charismatic Renewal conferences in 1979 and 1980. However the day comes when it's time to leave home and I arrived in Preston as a nervous teenager in 1981 at Preston Polytechnic. My first thought was to find Christian friends and I was delighted to hear that he was the first speaker in the Christian Union. His enthusiasm and love of God and people was overwhelming and a magnetic attraction. I started going to Holy Family regularly and he always left me after mass with something to think about. Many times it was down to earth and practical such as his love of cycling which inspired me to buy a touring bike and I started cycling to work and using it to raise money for charity.

On other occasions his message was very challenging with regard to the need for forgiveness and working for justice, but experience has taught me that his message always rings true. Truly he was a prophetic figure.

He also had a tremendous sense of humour taking part in parish celebrations and developing a sense of community where we could all have a laugh about anything and this is his marvellous legacy - a parish that is ready to give God's message appropriately where and when we have the chance including many young people and children.Paul Ainsworth

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Father Peter was a blissful and blithe individual who had an aptness for elating the congregation in times of anguish and sorrow. He concentrated on the 75% of good in things and ignored the 25% of darkness, which put a smile on everyone faces. He will be immeasurably missed and never forgotten.The Kubelabos

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Thanks to Martin, Tracy, Daisy & Tom for this video

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I was taken to Holy Family at the age of about 6 and my abiding memory is of Fr Peter wearing clogs, dancing on the altar and playing his clarinet. I'd never seen a priest alive like that. Over the years he has played a huge part in my life. Hearing my first confession (before I made it at my school church), welcoming my husband into the church, baptizing my daughter, making me part of the Holy Family. But the most important thing he taught me was to stand up for my faith and that no matter what "GOD LOVES ME" as he would say "including the grungy bits". PD we'll miss you but will never forget what you have taught us. You were one in a million, loved and respected far and wide. Shame our own diocese never really understood or appreciated you. Luke 4:24 and Matthew 13:5-7 Caroline Warden